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(No Model.)

J. W. AROLD.

TOY BUILDING BLOCK.

190919099. Patented Jan. 7,1890.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOl-l. IVOLFG. AROLD, OF NUREMBERG, BAVARIA, GERMANY.

TOY BUILDING-BLOCK.

SPEGIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 419,099, dated January 7, 1890.

Application filed August 15, 1889. Serial No. 320,812- (No model.) Patented in Belgium May 10, 1889, No. 86,198.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OH. WoLFG. AROLD, manufacturer, of Nuremberg, Deutschherrnstxn, No. 9, in the Kingdom of Bavaria and Empire of Germany, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Building- Blocks, (stone or wood,) that can easily be wedged and removed, (for which I have obtained a patent in Belgium, No. 80,198, dated May 10, 1889,) of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in toy building-blocks, such as are used by children for erecting structures of various kinds.

The toy building-blocks used heretofore all have the great defect that they must be handled with the greatest precaution while constructing objects with the same, as the slightest shock or misplacing of the blocks is liable to cause the whole structure to collapse. It is also difficult to build bay-windows, cupolas, arches, 850., with the blocks used heretofore, and forthat reason arches, bay-windows, 850., are furnished with such blocks, thereby limiting to a certain extent the kind and style of structures that can be erected with such blocks.

The object of my invention is to provide a building-block with which all kinds and styles of structures can be readily made without any danger of collapsing.

The invention consists in the combination, with a building-block having sockets in its side, of a spring coupling-piece for uniting the blocks.

In the accompanying drawings, Figures 1, 2, and 3 are front and side views of different constructions of the couplingpiece. Fig. 4. is a face view of one of the blocks, showing the socket. Figs. 5 and 6 are side views of building-blocks, showing the coupling-pieces applied.

Similar letters of reference indicate correspondin g parts.

The building-block A is provided in four sides with apertures B at the outer ends, of which disks a are countersunk in the faces of the blocks, so as to be flush with said faces, said disks being each provided with a rectangular aperture Z). The coupling-piece consists of a strip or frame 0, at the ends of which curved spring-prongs (Z are applied, which project toward each other. One end of a coupling-piece is inserted in an aperture 1) in the disk at of one block, and when another block is pressed against the first the projecting end of the coupling-piece passes into the slot or aperture of the disk in said second block, thus holding the blocks together, as the bent spring-prongs (Z catch on the edges of the apertures in the disk.

The blocks can be united or detached very easily and rapidly, and any desired structure can be erected.

I-Iavin g thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent-.-

1. The combination, with building-blocks having apertures in the faces and slotted disks secured in the faces of the blocks at the outer ends of said apertures, of spring coupling-pieces adapted to be inserted in said apertures to hold the blocks together, substantially as set forth.

2. A coupling-piece for building-blocks, consisting of a strip or frame having springprongs secured to the opposite ends thereof, said prongs projecting toward each other, substantially as set forth.

I11 testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOI-I. IVOLFG. AROLD.

\Vitnesses:

EGIDIUS Znrzscn,

. Lchrer. FRIEDR. REIEERT. 

